Constituency Youth Council Advocates for Climate Action

PITT MEADOWS – MAPLE RIDGE – MP Ruimy and his Constituency Youth Council (CYC) gathered for their third formal meeting to discuss the major impacts and implications of climate change in our local, national, and global community.

The group of young leaders commenced the monthly meeting by discussing the science of climate change, and the impacts their actions as youth have on generations to come. The CYC discussed the challenges that youth face in understanding climate change due to a lack of exposure within the school system, and in turn, their role in being active agents for change. The group, along with Ruimy, discussed what action they could collectively take in the community, such as fostering more discussions with youth and opportunities to learn outside the classroom. MP Ruimy has been encouraging the CYC to take initiative and to reach our to their peers to help harvest a greater understanding of climate change in Pitt Meadows – Maple Ridge. The ideas generated in the discussion will also be brought back to Ottawa with MP Ruimy as the Government continues to fulfill their commitment to reduce emissions and take action on climate change.

Mp Ruimy was pleased to work with the council on an issue of such importance to him and the community. This past summer, Ruimy hosted a community wide town hall to discuss community action on climate change with Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Jonathan Wilkinson. Ruimy and PS Wilkinson gained a deeper understanding of the climate-related issues constituents of Pitt Meadows – Maple Ridge face as well as their ideas on how to tackle the issue, bringing back their thoughts to Ottawa with them to discuss with colleagues. To engage youth, MP Ruimy has also hosted a Climate Change Townhall at Alexander Robinson Elementary, participating in an informative discussion as well as several activities with a group of the school’s active leaders.

Quotes

“While climate change can often feel like an issue we can’t connect to at a local level, the feedback brought forward by the CYC demonstrates just how important this issue is to our community, and in particular, those who will inherit it next. Tackling climate change is both a local and national issue and I look forward to not only bringing back the council’s ideas to Ottawa, but working with them here in the community on local climate action initiatives.” – Dan Ruimy, Member of Parliament for Pitt Meadows – Maple Ridge

“The stakes are high, the science is indisputable, and it’s clearer now than ever before that decisive action is needed on climate change. I think Canada has a lot of potential to be a leader in this area, and I look forward to seeing the community of Pitt Meadows – Maple Ridge unite with others locally, nationally, and even globally to find the best way to tackle climate change while strengthening our economy and improving social equality.” – Taylor Robinson, Constituency Youth Council Member

“The science tells us that even if we eliminate greenhouse gases tomorrow, we will still experience warming and the negative impacts of Climate Change for decades to come. The burden of mitigation and adaptation will be carried disproportionately by young people and future generations, thus public education on climate change is paramount.” – Josh Spencer, Constituency Youth Council Member